MUMBAI, India, CMC – Semi-final hero Lendl Simmons has warned England that West Indies are not a “one-man show” but says the Caribbean side must now play well in Sunday’s final if they are to win the Twenty20 World Cup.
Simmons was the architect of the Windies’ seven-wicket win over tournament favourites India at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday, carving out a career-best unbeaten 82 off 51 deliveries, as they chased down 193 to win with two balls to spare.
“This chase proved that West Indies is not a one-man show. Chris (Gayle) did not get off tonight but we still got to win the match,” the Trinidadian told a post-game media conference.
“Chasing a big total, despite him getting out early, shows the character in our team. Every member in our team are match winners and we can back ourselves.”
The final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata will be a rematch of the opening group match of the tournament which West Indies won convincingly, with superstar Gayle getting an unbeaten hundred.
Despite the superb win yesterday, however, Simmons said the final would pose different challenges and West Indies needed to adjust.
“We shouldn’t be over confident. On the day, it’ll be about which team plays better,” he pointed out.
“We have to go to Kolkata and analyse the situation of the game. The conditions will be different, I’m sure. It won’t be the perfect batting track like we got at Mumbai. The ball was turning in Kolkata. We have to see how it goes on Sunday.”
Simmons arrived in India only a few days ago as a replacement for Andre Fletcher, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Afghanistan game on Sunday in Nagpur.
Originally named in the squad but forced to with draw prior to the tournament, Simmons got a call from selectors following the Afghanistan game, quickly jumped on a plane and landed in time to take his place in the starting XI.
“I got the news after Afghanistan game. The chairman called and told if I was fit to go and play the match and I said yes,” said Simmons who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
“I was about to get ready on Friday and come to Mumbai for the IPL. I saw an opportunity to get ready for IPL as well. This is my home ground, I read the conditions well and think I read it well.”
West Indies lost Chris Gayle (5) and Marlon Samuels (8) to slump to 19 for two in the third over but Simmons put on 97 for the third wicket with opener Johnson Charles (52) and a further 80 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand with Andre Russell, who made an unbeaten 43 from 20 balls.
All told, Simmons counted seven fours and five sixes off a mere 51 balls.
“I was under a bit of pressure. They said I came here for a reason [so] I had to deliver and I guess I delivered,” he said.
“I play here for Mumbai and I enjoy batting on this pitch. It’s a lovely outfield and once you hit the ball in the gaps, you get value for your runs.”
